Official Nokia N-Gage Thread

Here is a really nice and informative feature on N-Gage:

» Link to GameAxis

The best part of this feature is the photos which show some screenshots of the games in action and the system in actual human hands. I must say that the form factor looks even better in real life than in the publicity shots. The screen looks nice and sharp too.


Here are a few pics:

Nokia spokesmodels with N-Gages:
[thumbnail]http://www.gameaxis.com/img/data/imgshots/380/ladies_with_N_Gage.jpg[/thumbnail]
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The OS:
[thumbnail]http://www.gameaxis.com/img/data/imgshots/380/whitengage_big.jpg[/thumbnail]
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Tomb Raider in hand:
[thumbnail]http://www.gameaxis.com/img/data/articles/85/hey_itz_lara_croft.jpg[/thumbnail]
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Under the cover with the battery and game card:
[thumbnail]http://www.gameaxis.com/img/data/imgshots/380/N_Gage_rear_big.jpg[/thumbnail]
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Hardware running Pandemonium:
[thumbnail]http://www.gameaxis.com/img/data/articles/85/hardware_with_pandemonium.jpg[/thumbnail]



Naysayers say what you will but I am still impressed. As long as this thing is reasonably prices I am on board. :)


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Edit: Btw- here is an interesting tidbit from that GameAxis article: « "He also mentioned that the revenue model for the N-Gage will revolve around the sale of the game cards, multiplayer/turn-based online gaming services, downloads (tips, cheats, walkthroughs, bonus features) and game-related mobile services (screensavers, ringtones, etc.)." »

That could hopefully be the justification for a lower cost for the system itself. Much like how Microsoft is losing $100u on every console it sells in the hope of making money in software (and by establishing itself in the industry), Nokia may have their business model setup to earn the revenue from software sales and downloadable content if this report is correct. If so that's good news.

The article also says « While pricing for both the N- Gage game deck and its game cards will only be revealed much later, we believe it will be priced higher than the existing Game Boy Advance due to its many value-added features. »

That makes sense to me. Like I keep saying, it should cost more considering what it is in comparision to GBA.

What I think this all adds up to is that the "€500 price point" is ridiculous but something along the lines of $150-200u is quite possible and considering all you are getting quite fair.

That's still just speculation and wishful thinking though. ;)

Nokia should release a light version called the "N-Gage GS" for those who just want to use it as a portable game system. I already have a cell phone and see no need for the phone features.

thanks sggg..the N-Gage looks pretty small. I'll get it if the price is very reasonable..i doubt it tho. i have been wrong tho.

Looks pretty nifty. Doesn't seem like a good design for a cell phone though, but I'm sure no one here cares about that. :P

i care if its a cellphone..makes me carry less and will entertain me even more. my nokia 7210 entertains me already..gotta find a way to install more java games into the phone..not to mention my Afterburner GBA

Then I'm sure you'll agree with me that that doesn't look like a really good cell phone.

Unless you and me are looking for different things in a cell phone. (This coming from the person who doesn't even own one)

If it's got a bluetooth headset then it IS a very good phone from my standpoint.

I hate cell phones but this product looks pretty cool. Wish it had a light/cover though and the buttons were a bit better placed. I hope the other thread's price isn't it because if it is it'll be major suckage. I'll stick to my GBA and soon SP though.

Let's see $70 for a GBA or $500 for an overpowered telephone?

Damn it Shine, that is NOT the official price...

It'll stay arround there, just you wait and see.

Will do, buckaroo.

Quote:

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Originally posted by ShineAqua
Let's see $70 for a GBA or $500 for an overpowered telephone?

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Not only is the price not "$500" :confused:..... but why is it an "or" in the first place? I for one have no plans to get rid of my GBA if I buy an N-Gage. I have 17 GBA games right now and by the time N-Gage comes out I'll probably have 30. Yet I have no plans on looking at this like a "videogame war" like I am in Grade 3 all over again. Anyone who looks at this as an either/or proposition with GBA is daft.

Quote:

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Yet I have no plans on looking at this like a "videogame war" like I am in Grade 3 all over again. Anyone who looks at this as an either/or proposition with GBA is daft.

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I don't see anyone doing that yet so I don't know where you got that vibe. It IS going to be competing with Nintendo's GBA so there's bound to be some good competition if all goes through.

But even if it isn't $500 or whatever I'm hoping it's going to be the same price as a GBA or maybe a little more because of the extra features so we'll all have to wait for the official word in the US. I need to see some games too to make the final judgement on how this whole thing will turn out.

Will, it will just get stolen anyway. You might as well buy it then throw it out. :lol:

Quote:

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Originally posted by Rich
Will, it will just get stolen anyway. You might as well buy it then throw it out. :lol:

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Wolverine says:
http://www.faro.yk.net/graphics/wolverine.jpg
"I'm gonna rip out yer throat Rich!"

*quack quack quaccccccccccck* *runs away duck style*

Quote:

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Originally posted by Will
I don't see anyone doing that yet so I don't know where you got that vibe.

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Sorry, I was replying directly and specifically to ShineAqua who said "Let's see $70 for a GBA or $500 for an overpowered telephone?".

I should have made it a quoted reply.



Edit: I edited it so now it is a quoted reply. :p

Ah I got you.

Gear.IGN has uploaded a "First Impressions" article:

» http://gear.ign.com/articles/385/385460p1.html

Based on everything I have read - which is just about everything you can read - it seems like a fair report. From the sounds of it the hardware is very solid but there are a few concerns about things like the card slot, battery life, and the price.

It's interesting that they reported that there may be different N-Gage versions eventually. I think that's very cool (as long as they are all 100% compatible) so they can target different user groups.. low end.. high end.. etc.. :)


Since there is much debate over the potential price I thought I'd paste this quote directly:

« Unfortunately Nokia still hasn't leaked any solid prices. They've made lose allusions and obvious comparisons -- Games will be less than console games! - - but nothing more. I am reluctant to hazard a guess, but I would be surprised if the unit was more than $200.00 and the games more than $30.00. That is total conjecture, though. »

That seems about right to me.... It seems like a fair price and a good guess. :)

*cross fingers*